The lawsuit claims deputies improperly removed her clothing at the scene and took nude photos.

"This was a young lady that just died and was treated with less dignity than a deer carcass you find on the side of the road," Don Perry, the attorney representing the Mejia family, told the Chicago Tribune.

Nicholas B. Sord, arrested in fatal DUI crash. (Handout)

The trial is scheduled to begin next Monday. A spokesperson says the department acted appropriately to preserve evidence.

The driver, Nicholas Sord, pleaded guilty last fall to drunken driving and was sentenced to 56 months in prison.

4 comments

A person in a major accident , especially if it includes cardiac arrest WILL have clothing removed for 2 reasons. 1 – Need clear access to chest to apply defib pads, cardiac monitor and provide adequate chest compression. 2- checking for additional injuries if the person is not conscious to advise you of those injuries. Once it was determined that life-saving measures would be futile the body becomes part of the crime scene and photos WILL be taken as evidence for accident reconstruction, investigation of what happened and if need be, prosecution of those responsible.